things lately

After I finally finished weaving, serging, and hemming those dishtowels, I realized I forgot to account for how much the non-mercerized cotton would shrink in the wash. As soon as I took them out of the dryer, it was clear they’d turned out absurdly small. I haven’t decided if I’ll give any away or if I’ll keep my shamefully tiny dishtowels to myself, but they provided a good weaving refresher either way.

I love it when my umbrella plant sprouts new leaves. I think I can add this one to the short list of sad, clearance houseplants I’ve impulsively bought and successfully rescued.

Recently I spent an afternoon organizing all my notions, writing utensils, and other small craft items into an old slide file. There are mounds of fabric and teetering stacks of art supplies spilling over most of the surfaces in that room, but I can find a little relief from the chaos in those well-ordered rows of pencils and string.

Those salt-flecked cookies you see above are probably the closest you can get to eating peanut butter straight from the jar (but in cookie form). I was skeptical that a flourless cookie would have very much structure, but they are plump and moist, with craggy, bronzed edges that crisp as they bake. I think the next iteration will have to contain chocolate in some form.

As soon as the temperature dropped below 70, I dug a skein of chunky yarn out of my stash and knit myself this hat with a giant pom-pom. I also bought a few yards of wool fabric so I can sew myself a new winter coat, but I think that project will have to wait until after Christmas.

Those stacks of soap were wrapped in paper, labeled, and sent off to my sister, who’s selling them at the coffee shop where she works. Two are slightly improved versions of the soaps from last year, but the third is a new cascara/chamomile blend with a lovely mild fragrance. If you are in Houston and you want to pick up a bar, you can find them here.